Lancaster to reject controversial holiday village after long-running saga
Three years after submitting plans for a 450-lodge Center Parcs-style destination, the developer behind the scheme is bracing for refusal.
Ellel Holiday Village, a sister business of Lancaster-based M Capital Investment Partners, wants to build an eco-friendly holiday park featuring 45 lodges, a 90-bedroom hotel and a host of amenities including a food hall and an immersive wildlife experience.
Speaking following the submission of plans for the scheme in late 2020, Andrew Stanyon, project director for Ellel Holiday Village, told Place North West: “I’ve lived and worked in Morecambe and Lancaster all my life, I’ve seen the heyday, and we want to play a part in putting this area back on the map.”
The plans have proved unpopular in some quarters. The application has garnered almost 800 letters of objection.
Lancaster City Council’s planning team has recommended its planning committee reject the 144-acre scheme due to concerns about a public safety – a high pressure ethylene pipe runs under the site – and the loss of land designated as public open space.
M Capital had previously tried to redevelop the site into a garden village of 950 homes before switching to the holiday park plans.
To learn more about the plans, search for application reference 20/01453/OUT on Lancaster City Council’s planning portal.
Architect Stride Treglown, economic consultancy Hatch Regeneris, JLL, landscape architect Randall Thorp, and planner JWPC are working on the scheme.
How is it controversial
By Gilly
This area needs tourism. It also needs employment with all the housing that has been built in this area. This would bring tourists.and employment.
By Anonymous
This would be great for the surrounding areas. A place to attract tourism, jobs and investment into the area.
Great place to go that’s on the doorstep
By Karen
We voted for this when the applications first came in and we still fully believe it would be a great addition to the area. There are so many local families who would use some of the facilities and to have friends staying nearby in fantastic surroundings would be wonderful. It makes sense as we have nothing like that in the area except tiny sites or static caravan sites which are becoming very outdated!
By Local Resident
This looks amazing and would be massive for the local area. Hope Councillors do the right thing and get behind it.
By Anonymous
This would be a fantastic project for the area. As long as wildlife and nature still form a big part of the scheme.
By Lisa
Nimby behaviour. The Fylde coast has Ribby Hall which is a huge asset to the area. Why can Lancaster not have a similar amenity for the locals? Great access, more jobs, overnight stays. Win, Win Win. Just get on with it.
By Stuart Duckworth